HIGGINSVILLE – Excelsior Springs got locked into another pressure cooker with Richmond in varsity girls basketball Monday night.Trailing by double digits at halftime, Excelsior Springs made a second-half surge to cut Richmond’s lead to two in the fourth quarter. The Spartans, however, answered the Tigers’ rally attempt with a 9-0 spurt down the stretch to win 46-37 and open the Husker Classic, hosted by Lafayette County of Higginsville.As Excelsior Springs coach JD Biermann observed, it was the fourth meeting in 12 months between the Missouri Highway 10 rivals. They met three times during the 2024-25 season. Richmond won the initial encounter 4645 in December 2024, also at the Husker Classic. Excelsior Springs won the rematch 49-37 in January in tournament play at Lawson, then rallied at crunch time to edge Richmond 48-45 in March for the Class 4 District 15 title.“Hopefully, we see them again,” Biermann said. “I think it’s just tw...